Hey y'all! So, here's the next chappie for, Chasms of Sixteen. I'm glad y'all are enjoying it so far it seems. It'll definitely be interesting how this progresses from here on out. Well, for y'all it will, but for me I know what happens due to being the one writing this after all. Hehes
Anyway, let's get on with it now. Please remember to favorite, follow, etc. along with leaving some nice reviews.
Chapter 25: Scarab
Naruto mentally nods, not so sure about his plan after all, but it's the only thing he can think of doing beyond using more than is suggested of Kurama's power. Probably that won't have that good of consequences though, scratching that idea to stick with the one set in place. Arriving at Team 10's usual training ground, he hesitates in a tree, expanding his senses. Nope, Asuma isn't anywhere to be found. Neither is Kakashi either from what he can tell. Alighting on the ground at the edge of the clearing, Naruto calls out to the three genin training there, managing to confirm that they are indeed, going to the exams as well. The same explanation is given for the necklaces although Shikamaru questions his motives.
"This way all nine of us will be way more likely to pass! Plus I'm friends with Shikamaru and Chouji. I want to help them. So there," answers Naruto a bit childishly.
Ino and Chouji easily accepts his explanation although Shikamaru is still suspicious, he just shrugs and mutter troublesome under his breath, knowing long before anyone else how hard to predict Naruto is at any given time. Figuring out the blonde's motives isn't worth the effort involved for it to even be possible.
"Oh, by the way," Naruto continues, not wanting to stay here too long. "Don't tell Asuma-sensei about these…. I may not have gotten the stuff used to make these…. The jutsu for them isn't a widely accepted one…"
Ino rolls her eyes, "That's just like you, baka! Being on a different team from yours almost enough to make up for being on a different team than Sasuke! I can't believe you stole something."
"Mendokuse," Shikamaru mumbles. "Ino, you do know that it's commonplace for shinobi to steal. Naruto's only issue is that he probably stole something restricted to genin. Right?"
"Yeah," nods Naruto, relief washing over him at someone getting it. So far, so good….
"Whatever," shrugs Ino, slipping the necklace over her head.
Seeing that the three will keep quiet, and most likely don't have any more questions that he's going to answer, Naruto says goodbye to run off. He sure hopes that he'll be able to find his old friend before the exams start up in earnest…
()()()()()
Tsuchi Kin stares out the window of her hotel room. The feeling of nostalgia rushes over her almost with being here. Huh. Never thought she might feel anything but contempt for the place she's been born and raised.
Don't think it's the place you miss, little one, the voice that has always been her constant companion whispers though she knows the owner of the voice is right with this not being the place she truly misses.
Onee-chan, can you stop reminding me already? Kin replies, her tone lacking the usual spite she normally speaks with.
The two fall into silence, as Kin watches the sun set over Konoha. Sunset has always been her favorite time of the day. It's when the world slows down for all the people to fall asleep. Then the true wonders of the world show themselves.
"Hey, Kin!" a familiar voice whispers from nearby.
Jumping slightly, she doesn't realize until being startled that she's been dozing off to foolishly drop her guard, deciding to whisper back with slight anoyance, "Who's there?"
"It's me, Naruto," the voice answers for Kin's eyes to widen ever so slightly, not having seen the blonde in years.
"What the hell do you want?" Hisses out considering if she gets caught talking to a Konoha shinobi then she'll be damned.
"Can't tell you here. Make up some excuse to go to the market district. A friend of mine will meet you there," answers the blonde in a hushed tone so as not to be spotted. "Gotta go."
Before Kin can say anything, a common blue jay drops from the roof above her window, whispering a goodbye back at her. Typical Naruto, doing something so easy and yet rarely thinks of to sneak around. Who the hell is she suppose to meet with, anyway?
Little one, the voice whisper. Did you notice his chakra signature?
No, Kin repleis, frowning at the question. Why?
Pausing for a second, before replying, the owner of the voice tells her, His energy signature has changed… he's starting to merge with Kurama.
Kin smiles at this tidbit of information. So, the brat has finally met his demon? Good for him.
Well, let's go see what this is all about then.
Grabbing some money, Kin slips on her shoes to walk into the hallway. Dosu apparently hears her, because he opens the door to his and Zaku's room, looking around.
"Where are you going?" he asks, not trusting his teammate to not do something foolish.
"Don't get all pissy. I'm just going shopping," Kin replies, holding up her purse. "Go back to your boyfriend."
Dosu scowls at her. She's been bothering him and Zaku incessantly ever since Dosu has tripped to fall on Zaku during a training session, their lips accidentally meeting. Dosu has never been able to shake the feeling that she's somehow rigged the training match so that might happen although he's never been able to prove anything. Still scowling, Dosu retreats into his room to slam the door behind him. Doesn't he know that she isn't the type of girl to randomly decide to go shopping? Of course not. He never pays attention to anyone other than himself. Plus it helps that she's made him too annoyed to desire to talk to her any longer than necessary, effectively killing his curiosity. That has been almost the best prank she's ever pulled. It might of even happened in front of most of the Sound genin along with many of the chunin and jounin. Their embarrassment has been worth the trouble of arranging it just right so that it'll work. That way she gets away with it. Shortly Kin arrives at the market area within five minutes, deciding to walk rather than run. The hotel is close to the shops, anyway. She has only been there for ten minutes when somebody taps her on the shoulder. Turning around, Kin sees a brown haired male with shoulder length hair and unexpressive brown eyes. One of the most nondescript people she's ever seen before by the looks of it.
"Excuse me, miss," the unknown male says. "But you left this in my grandfather's shop."
Holding out her purse, Kin thought she got it after paying for whatever supplies she might need for the upcoming battles. Swearing that she's kept her purse with her the whole time, not seeing this individual in the one shop she's entered.
"Thanks," says Kin, grabbing the purse.
Before she can turn around and leave the person who found it continues the conversation.
"I notice that you have a music sheet for song Kitsune no Aika. I'm trying to learn how to play it…. I'm wondering if you can give me some tips," says the male by the looks of it even though he does have some feminine features about him, staring at the ground though causes Kin to blink.
First of all, she's never heard of a song called Kitsune no Aika, not having any music sheets in her purse. The reference to a fox though perks her interest. Perhaps this is Naruto's friend he's told her to meet. Discussing music will give them an excuse to talk to each other.
"Sure," acquiesces Kin after checking briefly that no Sound-nin or spies that she knows of are anywhere nearby.
She won't be surprised if Orochimaru's spies are following her though. He doesn't trust anyone other than himself. Then again, the bastard considers everyone else so beneath him that he never seems to think of the possibility of someone betraying him. Well, he does consider this, but doesn't let anyone in on his thoughts except for his assistant, Kabuto.
"The name is Tsuchi Kin."
"I'm Aiji," the other person replies, bowing his head slightly.
Kin follows Aiji back to the shop she's entered earlier. Instead of entering he walks into a side alley, presumably heading for a back door. Kin follows swiftly after a moment's hesitation. She doesn't exactly trust this Aiji person after all. Opening a side door, he turns to Kin to beckon for her to enter. The door leads into a hallway, doors space unevenly along it. At the end of the hallway is a stairway with steps leading up and down.
"My apartment is on the second floor, right above grandfather's shop. I have a music room there that we can practice in."
Nodding, Kin continues to follow him. The door swings shut behind them, preventing anyone who might have been tailing Kin from following. When the two of them have reached the top of the stairs they both hear the door to the outside creak open. Aiji quickly grabs Kin's arm to pull her up another flight of stairs. Once there Aiji soundlessly opens a window to the outside before jumping out. Kin looks out the window to see that it faces another building that's clearly newer than the one they are currently in. It's very close to the window Aiji has exited out of. Seeing that he has landed on a window sill of another wing of the building, Kin is standing in. The enormous window has been cut off by the new building to be boarded up, the state of the window itself attests to the fact that the room beyond hasn't been used in quite some time. Kin follows Aiji further onto the ledge, letting the window slide shut behind her. Anybody outside of the building isn't going to be able to see them, hoping that her pursuers inside won't have any reason to suspect that she's gone out a third story window. They probably thought that she has simply entered a room before they can climb the stairs to the second floor. Aiji wastes no time in scaling the wall with chakra, Kin following right behind him. The two enter one of the abandoned rooms through a substantial hole in the wall.
"This wing of the building is heavily damaged when Kurama attacked, having never been repaired," Aiji says, explaining the desolate state of all the rooms they've passed.
The room they are currently in is other than the hole in the wall, in a fairly good state of repair. Aiji forms the hand sign for henge, before her visage is replaced in a poof of smoke with that of a different boy with dark brown eyes and black hair. Kin knows the use of disguising herself, choosing the form of a brown haired boy with light brown eyes. The two of them exit the room, slipping onto the fifth floor of the main wing of the building. They run down to the first level, exiting through a different back door than they used to enter. Aiji leads Kin through the market to the most run down section of Konoha, taking a winding path that'll throw off any pursuers not familiar with the streets of Konoha. They quickly arrive at an apartment complex, which Aiji enters without hesitation. The two dash up to one of the middle floors, entering into the last room on the hall.
"This is Naruto-kun's room," Aiji tells Kin, turning slightly to face the sound nin.
Kin glances around, but doesn't see anyone. If she is suppose to talk with the blonde it's fairly logical to assume that she might actually get to meet him. Still, she hasn't figured out why he'd decides to contact her after all this time. Or how he even knows that she's participating in the chunin exams. Aiji walks to the wall farthest from the window, gathering chakra in his hand. Pulling aside a picture of Naruto and what Kin assumes is his genin team, Aiji slams his hand into the wall. A blue handprint is left behind for Kin to feel a weird sensation overcome her as a complex chakra barrier is raised. Her specialization in illusion allows Kin to appreciate the work of art that is the chakra barrier. It has likely been created by the fox vixen herself, Naruto probably not having the chakra control or experience required to create this advanced an illusion. Kin watches, fascinated, as a shimmering portal opens in front of her. Aiji steps through for after a moment's hesitation Kin follows, figuring she has nothing to lose even if this does turn out to be pointless, being bored with nothing else to do.
"Hey! Kin!" Calls out Naruto, seeing two boys arrive using the Gateway that leads back to his apartment even though they don't look at all like their original selves, Naruto can sense their identities.
Both Haku and Kin releases their transformations at the same time. Kin looks around, temporarily ignoring Naruto.
"Where the hell are we?" she asks.
"Kurama's place," an unfamiliar voice announces.
Naruto looks in the direction it has come from. What he sees is a woman. With butterfly wings. Kurama thought she has seen her before, but has no clue where. She is quite petite with skin a light tan, having long blonde hair, streaked with a pale shade of pink and a deep purple. Her outfit is made of some bright, multicolored shimmering cloth, loosely covering all of her body except for her head, neck, hands, and feet. Both feet are clad in shoes of what looks like soft leather. Her wings are the most amazing thing about her though. Great sweeping butterfly wings that are decorated with figures in a plethora of colors, having bright green eyes, and ears are pointed. They easily extend four inches beyond the normal ear length of humans. Her ears are pierced many times over, colorful and complex baubles decorate them.
"May I ask what such a beautiful fairy lady such as yourself might wish to be called?" Naruto asks, hoping he's gotten the wording right to not sound like a fool, making sure to compliment her, of course as it's considered rude in fairy society to not compliment someone the first time anyone might meet them, hearing a melodious laugh from her.
"Such manners! You've taught him well, Kurama," she says, smiling. "Yes, you may ask my name, young warrior. I am called Chou Yosei. I'm sealed into Kin."
"Hey! I know you!" Exclaims the fox, finally remembering where she's seen this one before. "You were Rikka's and Tejina's sensei!"
Yosei laughs lightly, "I know that you've been having memory problems due to Aranea's poison, but I never thought that it might take you so long to remember me."
Well, there goes her moment of giddiness over her memory returning. Who is Aranea? Meanwhile, Naruto, Kin, and Haku are having a conversation of their own.
"You're a jinchurriki?" Asks Naruto, surprised as he's never thought that Kin has been one of any kind although it explains how she's been so mature for her age.
"Yeah, onee-chan was sealed into me as punishment by some new world fairies. The idiots didn't bother so much as putting a seal so I can talk to her freely," she explains quietly. "What the hell do you call me for anyways? It's dangerous for me to meet a Konoha nin. You know it, so don't tell me you feel like a reunion."
"Let's talk inside," answers Naruto, indicating the massive palace behind him.
Kin briefly has to wonder who can afford the place. The three walk into the main hall of the palace, Naruto leading them towards the same meeting room he, Haku, and Zabuza have first used. Zabuza is already there. He's been dozing lightly in one of the chairs, snapping awake when the three shinobi enter.
"This is Momochi Zabuza," introduces Naruto to Kin. "Zabuza, meet Tsuchi Kin."
Kin nods, indicating that she's heard him. This place is huge. The fanciness of it all astounds her. Really, what is the point of having something so expensive? A regular table and chairs will serve the same purpose to be way more affordable. The three sit down at various random points about the table. Receiving a message from Kurama that she'll be a while, letting him know that they can always learn what has been talked about from their jinchurriki later, Naruto decides to go ahead.
"Kin, I need your help with something," Naruto tells her, his tone and facial expression turn serious.
He's sure grown up in the last six years, Kin observes, comparing Naruto to the kid he's been when she knew him, always either being all happy and stupid, not having a care in the world, or being sad.
"Like what? I'm not going to do anything that'll end with me dead or likely badly hurt," replies Kin, knowing that the only reason Naruto might want to seek her out if he's already gone to such pains as to have high ranked missing ninja under his command is to get close to Orochimaru either to kill him or spy on him, knowing both of which are high risk jobs.
"Basically, I need your identity. Using you as a contact, I can replace people close to Orochimaru with clones to gain spies among his ranks. Also I know you…. I know that you probably already have access in some way or another to restricted information," the blonde explains, wasting no time in getting to the point of the matter.
Before she can point out the flaws in his plan like her own safety, Haku interrupt, "Any high risk parts such as the upcoming chunin exams, you don't have to carry out yourself. Either a clone or I will take your place when Oto and Suna invade Konoha. You can also be replaced during the first two stages of the Chunin Exams. Any other times when risk if high this can be a viable option."
"I can assume you're not planning on taking out Orochimaru?" Kin asks, knowing that Naruto has always been the type to avoid using no subterfuge whatsoever to almost always having some trick or another beneath the surface, thinking that killing Orochimaru outright, in front of all those people will be stupid.
Naruto puts at ease her worries, "I know that you'd figure it out. No, I'm not going to kill Orochimaru during the invasion. That'll be way too obvious. If I can, I'll arrange to have him killed off by ANBU. What I plan to do is actually replace one of his bodyguards with a clone. Replacing one of the Sound Four will definitely screw up so many of his plans."
Kin blinks. No way… it's just too perfect to work. Still, if she isn't in the direct line of fire it can't hurt her to try.
"I think I know a way to incapacitate one of the Sound four," she says, knowing she's likely going to regret this, but it can't hurt. "But before I tell, what am I going to get out of all this?"
Naruto grins before he answers, "The help of me, Kurama, Gaara and Shukaku, most fox demons, Zabuza, Haku, and anyone else I can convince to help for starters. Also we'll all help protect you. Trust me, Orochimaru doesn't have anything good planned for you. You won't be at too much risk. I'll give you a communication device. Anyone who knows how will be able to get to you in a split second if you raise the alarm. Also I have at the least one demigod on my side, but she doesn't want me to reveal her identity until things have been decided."
"Wait, brat, back up," growls Zabuza. "You have a demigod helping you? Why the hell haven't you mention this earlier?"
Shrugging, he answers, "I haven't think it mattered. She's not going to help unless things start involving her or I get into a situation involving other demigods."
"Stupid brat," Zabuza growls again. "Of course it matters! Don't you know that the first rule of not getting your ass creamed is to not mettle in the affairs of deities and demigods?!"
"Yes, I know that," glares Naruto in response. "But the second rule says not to mettle in the affairs of dragons and demons. You're doing that just by being in this organization."
"That's different! Dragons and demons are way less," Zabuza begins to argue only to be cut off mid-sentence by Naruto.
"Anyway, they're more of guidelines rather than actual rules, so we don't really have to follow them," says Naruto, returning to a more calm composure.
Before Zabuza can reply, Kin interrupts Again. "What are you two talking about? I've never heard of these rules before."
"Oh? Haven't you ever heard the saying 'Don't mettle in the affairs of dragons and/or demons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup'?" Asks Naruto, his grin growing wider. "The 'Don't mettle in the affairs of deities and demigods' is pretty much just assumed to be common sense.
Kin opens her mouth as if to reply, but then seems to change her mind, instead asking, "Back to the subject we're suppose to be talking about, why you are trying to start an organization, anyways?"
'Really, do they all have to ask why I'm gathering missing ninja, jinchurriki, random people that can be useful, and various others? I mean, can't they just, I don't know, accept the fact and agree or decline?' Asks Naruto with his brows creasing a bit out of the conflicting affairs of trying to set this all up.
They canbut then they probably might be an idiot, and having anybody stupider than you in this organization won't be such a smart idea. You're already pushing the limits of accepted intelligence level as it is, replies Kurama over their mental link.
First of all, wasn't talking to you. Secondly, I'M NOT STUPID! Also, this is my organization which means I can't be kicked out! So there! Naruto snaps back at her.
Do you realize how childish you just sounded?' Laughs the fox.
You know what? Shut up. I'm going to ignore you now.'
'How are you going to ignore a voice in your head? Asks the fox, sighing at how childish this conversation is.
Lalala, I can't hear you! Naruto thought, projecting a mental image of him with his hands blocking his ears.
The blonde can swear that he hears a snort and Baka comment from the fox, having to resist the impulse to reply. Turning his attention back to the meeting, he responds to Kin, knowing she needs a proper response to ensure this goes over smoothly.
"I'm in for now," Kin says, bringing Naruto back to the conversation. "But if things get too dangerous towards me or you ask me to do something I don't want to, I'm out."
Naruto nods, agreeing, "Alright, makes sense."
Rather than continue the conversation there, Naruto decides to give Kin a transmitter to explain explain its use. She has been followed of course. If she is gone for too long it will look suspicious. They can finish the conversation over the mind channel anyway. Zabuza seems to be getting annoyed. Let's just say it's best not to annoy the maniacal killer in the room. Naruto and Kurama both say their goodbyes to Kin and Chou, the fairy and demon having caught up fairly well. What Kurama learns is as much as she can from Chou, beginning to piece together her lost memory. Haku leaves with Kin and Chou, promising to return later. The more he ventures out the more risky it is, but he needs to be present to make Kin's story sound believable.
"You were saying earlier that you want to replace one of those bastards and one bitch, in the Sound Four. I know how you might be able to replace Kidomaru. I know some of his personality," begins Kin as she runs back to the market district, somehow sensing over the mind link that her audience of four Zabuza has decided to listen to what she's saying despite how annoyed he is at all the 'useless banter. "The moron has this creepy obsession with me. He says I'm the 'hottest chick in Sound'. The freak has asked me out on dates several times."
Naruto grins manically which Haku and Kin sense, "Hehe, my favorite kind of trick…. I can take care of that part since you seem kind of adverse to the idea of going within half a mile of him."
"Whatever," dismisses Kin, feeling slightly at ease that she doesn't have to, thinking it good that she doesn't have to dare seducing Kidomaru.
The guy is a jerk though. He's always going out of his way to creep people out. He has the strangest idea of 'flirting'. He's one of the two reasons Kin has decided not to rise any further in the ranks. The other being the really high ranked people are generally subjected to Orochimaru's various experiments; especially curse seals. The more gruesome experiments are preformed on the really low ranked people including prisoners. Naruto nods, asking her about Kidomaru, explaining that people rarely see past their own selves more than is necessary. It's easy to fool someone as long as someone acts in the range of what they expect. This also includes their self image. Someone with an over sized ego, for instance, is far more susceptible to being fooled by someone faking interest in them than someone with almost no self esteem.
It makes sense to her. Kin explains everything she can about Kidomaru's personality and how she'll be expected to act. She also tells the four people as much as she knows about the invasion, who will be where, and when things will happen, various people's weak points, etc. is also being given intel to them via her.
You're being awfully helpful, remarks Naruto, recalling Kin's usual personality.
I'm just excited at the thought of that jackass Orochimaru being ground into the dust. He acts all nice and kind, but he's not like how he is out of the hideouts. I'm thankful that I'm not a boy and he's not straight," says Kin in a ranting mood, causing Naruto to be mildly surprised (and amused) by the normally calm yet sadistic girl's rant. You need to disembowel him. Hang him from his toes off the side of a cliff infested with hawks…
I second Kin's idea for killing him, says Naruto, adding to his own thoughts that he probably won't considering the Sanin is more useful alive.
Yes, yes, I know all about that, kit. Rest assure that all will fall into place as they will. Just keep your focus on track of each step one at a time. Don't get too ahead of yourself or you'll go two or three steps backwards.
Oks, that's the end of chappie twenty-five. I hope you all enjoyed. I'm trying my hardest and best to ensure I update this often and quickly enough for y'all. I hope that's good though. *sweatdrops* Though probably it's due to my anxiety issues that I put out more than I expect.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed what happened this time. The next chappie will be out shortly whenever I have it finished being revised. Until then, please remember to review, darlings!